Switzerland

[CH] Media Support Act

IRIS 1998-2:1/19

Oliver Sidler

Medialex

On 17 December 1997 the Governmental Council of the Canton of Berne adopted a Media Support Bill which had been proposed by the Canton Parliament. This follows the instructions contained in the Canton's Constitution to uphold `the independence and plurality of information'. Its 14 articles describe the targets for media support in the Canton and the criteria for granting such support. A single media concern (electronic media as well as printed media) may not use either the Constitutional condition or the Media Support Act to create a legal precedent in respect of support. The purpose is more to support the supply of information in the Canton.

Media support would have to be given at three levels: support measures of ideas, support measures in the form of contributions to media products and the promotion and support of initial and further training for people working in the media. From the Canton's financial point of view, emphasis should be placed on ideas support to start with. To do so, the Cantonal authorities will be required to provide more favourable framework conditions in the media field. Firstt of all, the Governmental Council is to set up a specialist advisory body on media matters (there is provision for a Media Commission comprising a maximum of nine members).